joyfulaz

Wow, that is a shocker if you are talking about Dr. Ariel Ortiz! Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez, Dr. Miranda and the entire staff was wonderful when I was there. They took extra time and spoke to all the patients at length. The care I was given was wonderful. The day after my surgery, I wasn't feeling very good. Not so much pain but just didn't feel like I should. They took me right in and gave me an IV (not enough sipping water on my part) and made sure I was much much better before I left. I have never had such concern and great care by doctors and a facility here in the States. I was totally impressed! So sorry to hear someone else had a bad experience! : (

I had VGS in June with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center. I couldn't have asked for better care! The Doctors and Center are wonderful!!! It was more expensive than some of the others but I don't regret that a bit! I looked into a few other places that was less expensive but glad I choose OCC and Dr. Ortiz. Good Luck!

Good luck to all of you on your upcoming surgeries! I cannot speak for everyone....but I am so thankful that I was able to do this. It is not always easy but so worth it! I would do it all over again and I still have 40+ pounds to lose. I was very nervous and scared too. Best advice: Follow every little thing your doctor says...pre-surgery and post-surgery!

Everything that Jordan 1923 said!!!! My VGS was June 19, 2012! I am doing great and no probs. I would do it all over again. I am going to start checking on my plastics a year out. I was so scared before I went. Now I know it was nothing to be scared of. It was the begining of the rest of my life!! Loved Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez, Josie (my nurse), Dr. Miranda and the entire staff. Hotel staff was wonderful too. Tip: The liquid yogurt that you can drink on day 2 or 3 (cant remember which day) can be bought in the hotel gift shop. Just ask the hotel staff. I didn't know this. They will give you a complete detailed post op diet. Tip: Don't take to much luggage. Just comfy clothes. Take luggage with wheels. When you cross the border coming back into the states you have to walk through. Not far and easy. But it's better to be able to roll your luggage. I can eat anything now. Of course not much of it! I can even eat Mexican food (I live in Arizona!). I have lost 73lbs since I started my pre-op diet till not. I do make smart choices even tho I can eat anything. It is a whole life style change! If I can help answer any questions send me a message. Good luck on your journey!

VGS on June 19, 2012....Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mex. I lost 24 lbs on pre op diet and 49lbs since then. Care was wonderful there. Would do it again!! Everything about my staff was good. Doctors spent a great deal of time before and after surgery. Staff all spoke English and were super nice. Surgical Center was super clean. Hotel was nice (Marriott Tijuana). Spent one night at hotel pre-op, one night at surgical center and two nights at hotel post-op. Make sure you keep sipping Water, that's very important. I did go over to surgical center day one post op and have to get IV. I should have been drinking more water. But felt good other than that. Drain tube was uncomfortble but not painful. I do take Prilosac for a little reflux and had to switch my Protein shakes to something without lactose (switched to Muscle Milk Light). But that is it. My PC would not do follow up care if I had complications. He told me to go to ER. I haven't needed too. I would say be very careful to follow all the instructions just like anywhere you have the surgery! Good Luck!

I am in the West Valley as well. Goodyear. I had the VGS on June 19, 2012 with Dr. Ortiz, in Tijuana, Mex., at the Obesity Control Center. I cannot say enough good things about my experience. My insurance would not cover and was self pay. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez, they were wonderful. Great bedside manner...spent alot of time talking with me before and after the surgery. I just recently found this site. Maybe you all could give me tips on how to put my picture on here and put the little weight scale on here too. : ) I am not the best on the computer. Thanks and looking forward to chatting. Joy

That is awesome news on your blood sugar! Mine was the same way...around 200 all the time pre-surgery. I have not taken any medications since my surgery June 19, 2012! My blood sugar is around 90 to 110 all the time. VGS was life saving and changing! I lost my mother when she was 62 (I was 23 yrs old, this was 25 yrs ago). This is still difficult for me. I miss her just as much today. But I tell myself that she would want me to live a long and healthy life. So hang in there. Grief is very hard and must be taken one day at a time. Good luck to you!

It's so nice to find people right here in the Valley to speak to about our sleeve/weight loss journey! I am in Goodyear, Arizona. I had my VGS on June 19, 2012 (3 months ago today!) with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico. Can't say enough good things about Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez and the OCC staff. Wonderful experience. My insurance would not cover the surgery, so I was self pay and had to look for lower cost. It might have been lower cost but the quality was excellent! I lost 24 lbs pre-op and 47 lbs post-op! As of today....that's 71 lbs (total pre and post op)! I woke up very excited about this! (I like to keep saying the total over and over!) It is still challenging day to day experience. But a very good one. Each day I feel better and I am getting healthier. If anyone wants to chat about upcoming surgery or post-op surgery, let me know. I still have many questions myself! I just came out of stall. It seems it took forever just to lose the last 10 lbs. I cried half the day yesterday because I wanted to have lost 70 lbs by today. I woke up and had lost 2 POUNDS! Which put me at 71 lbs today! God is good! Thanks for listening and let me know how my fellow AZ VGS are! One last thing....If anyone knows a regular Physician in the West Valley or anywhere in the Valley that is good with VGS patients, please let me know. My current Physician in Goodyear is not real good about my VGS follow ups and is really rude because I choose to go to Mexico for my surgery. In fact he told me if I had any problem post surgery that I better look else where or go to an inner city emergency room! Thank god, I have not had anything major as of yet. But to say the least.....looking for a new Physician!! Joy